Spokane Journals

Summer in Spokane

A July 2008 trip to Spokane by travellingdave

Quote: A lovely summer trip to the excellent tourism center of eastern Washington State.

Ichiban Sushi Lounge

Restaurant | ""Japanese Food Heaven Meets Trashy Bar""

Quote:

You all know you've Been to one of these restaurants. The trendy
sushi bar meets cultured Japanese restaurant meets hardcore urban nightclub. Upon entering the establishment, you'll immediately get a strange sensation mix, where you dread ever coming in, but morbid curiosity kelps you from waking out the door. Upon first glance, the place is drab, unwelcoming, and a bit cliched in its atmosphere, which is complete with questionable mood lighting as well as its huge, raunchy nightclub style bar, which is so stocked with liquor bottles that it would put some alcoholics to shame.

What the restaurant lacks in ambiance and eye candy, it makes up for on its - you guessed it - incredible Japanese food.

Our meal began with bowls of steaming hot miso soup, which was well presented and seasoned (and quite scalding). This was followed by a plate of delicious salted edamame (steamed soy beans in shell). The beans were well cooked and seasoned, and were in par with, if not better than, any edamame this side of Tokyo.

Up next was the delicious main - a bento box featuring teriyaki glazed sliced chicken breast over rice, mandarin-sesame side salad, 2 pork gyoza (Japanese dumplings), and two slices of California roll (a crab and avocado maki roll). The chicken was light, flavorful, and of a perfect portion. The salad was also good, if a bit mundane. The gyozas were bland and nothing special, while the California rolls exuded freshness.

To accompany, we dried to Kamakasi roll, the Vegan roll, and the
smoked salmon roll. All were freshly prepared and well balanced.

As can be expected with most Japanese restaurants, prices here are substantial and can add up quickly. Dinner for two including tax, tip, and non-alcoholic drinks carried a price tag of $50.00. Come prepared. The average entree price is $10.00, and sushi runs around $6.99 per roll (8 slices). Appetizers can be had for $2.75 to $4.99 per portion.

While definitely lacking in atmosphere and even customer service, this place does serve excellently prepared, fresh food, and it is probably the best sushi restaurant in Spokane. So, try it out one day (even if you end up taking it to go!).
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on August 10, 2008

Ichiban Sushi Lounge
202 West Third Avenue
Spokane 99201
(509) 747-8877