Sushi Kicchin

I have walked by this bar-style nook in the Old Capitol mall for LITERALLY a decade. It came onto the downtown Iowa City food scene right around the time I did, as a college freshman.

Never. Once. Did I stop in for sushi. I think mostly because, as a college kid, sushi was always a bit out of my price range. But also, the handful of seats Sushi Kicchin offers were almost always full!

And now all I hear is Julia Roberts. "Big mistake. Big. Huge." Because you guys, this sushi is phenomenal.

I came in on a rainy Wednesday night, with school out of session. And owner, Perkins Herron, was behind the counter. Like always. Music playing, blue hat on and a smile on his face.

He served me up fresh, made-to-order sushi rolls. The service was fast and friendly. The price was right and it was damn good. Spicy Salmon, Yellow Tail, Shrimp Tempura and The Volcano rolls were DEVOURED. (I'm a sucker for Shrimp Tempura and this one did not disappoint.)

You really get to know a person when it's a slow night and they're literally cooking RIGHT in front of you. This an army vet-owned biz. The former Mississippi resident, fellow Iowa City West alum is fabulous at what he does and great to talk to!

Park in the Old Capitol Mall Ramp, first hour free. Know you won't be having a sake bomb with your sushi-- no alcohol is served here.

In landlocked Iowa... sushi can be hit or miss. But this sushi is made before your eyes-- with rice cooked in small batches, to keep it fresh. And it shows. Eat in! Take it to-go! Just come to Sushi Kicchin, ya'll! Don't make my BIG mistake.

I was looking forward to trying this place out after several recommendations. Unfortunately, we were welcomed by very passive aggressive service by the gentleman behind the counter, who was the only one cooking/serving/attending to customers. I asked how long the wait would be because I saw that 5/6 seats were already taken and got a rude response saying "well no one here has gotten their food yet, so....??" So My boyfriend and I decided to walk around to see if there were any other options. About 5 min later we saw that there were seats open so we decided to just at least give this place a try and see if it's worth going to or not. Upon sitting the worker asked us right away what we wanted to order and we said we don't know yet and would like to look at the menu. He proceeds to saying "well you seemed like you were in a rush and I'm just giving you what you were giving me". At this point, I was very tempted to leave but decided to continue giving this place a try after hearing several people recommending it.

The miso soup was salty, there was no seaweed in there. All of their rolls was doused with spicy miso and eel sauce, which completely masked the flavors of the sushi. On top of that I was also drawn back by the cleanliness of the kitchen. I would say save your money and try another sushi restaurant in town, there are others that have better service and food.

What a pleasant surprise! Summer is for diet and sushi fits in the category of healthy guilt-free food. As it is conveniently located in old Capitol mall, I decided to give this place a try and now I can't wait for trying everything on the menu. I got a spicy white tuna roll (4.7), 2 pieces of salmon nigiri (4) and a miso soup. I appreciate the attention to details he delivers to the food he serves, definitely better than some other sushi places around town. I also enjoyed the owner/chef's personality, unlike other sushi bar experiences I had in the past, he's like a bartender offering not only what your ordered but also gives a fun conversation that just makes everything even better. Bottom line, food is quality and fresh, and cost friendly=great experiences. Highly recommend!

Absolutely delicious, fresh sushi in an unlikely spot. Don't let the location throw you. I almost wrote it off, but the great reviews encouraged me to visit.

My son-in-law was visiting me from Sydney and we are both big sushi fans. He was certainly surprised to find this in the middle of Iowa!

The food was wonderful and the owner is terrific. I will be back.

The only downside would be seating. If you aren't lucky enough to grab on of his sushi bar seats, you might have to sit in the food court.

Sushi counter with tables in common area. Sushi was very good, had the salmon and tuna which both were very quality.

Pretty basic menu that delivers on quality. Sushi is worth coming back to.

The spider roll and spicy tuna was great! I had them both for lunch... i only wish there was a lunch special price, i paid $16 for 2 rolls not really what I'd like to pay for lunch - but the taste was worth it having. I finished both rolls .... stuffed (more than I'd like) I'll be back for seaweed salad for sure!

I come to Iowa City for work a few times a year from NYC, and always, ALWAYS, make it a point to go there. The rolls are unique and always great. What makes the place so awesome is not only the food, but the guy who owns and runs the restaurant. He's interesting to talk to and cares about his place and makes his customers feel at home. I came in just as he was about to close, and he gladly served up the best sushi I've had in a long time. He didn't rush me out. I wasn't sure what to get and just asked for him to make whatever he wanted, and I'm glad i did. This place is by far the best kept secret of Iowa City.

A really strange place, but some of the best sushi I've had! This is located within the Old Capitol Mall in Iowa City - it's literally a counter in the corner. I've only ever seen one guy working and he's a character - fun to chat with! I love the salmon dream, snake, and spider rolls! My only complaint is that it's a little on the slow side - but worth the wait!

Outstanding service, outstanding food, best place for sushi in Iowa City.

The prices are outstanding too, but their customer service is second to none. No other restaurant has gone the extra mile for me when I couldn't feel my face after going to the dentist.

Amazing

Favorite sushi in Iowa city, from someone who has tried them all. Run by the owner who prepares unbelievable sushi in front of you. Try the seared beef roll which is delectable with a House special sauce that really makes it pop. Fresh fish in rolls and sashimi. Highly recommend