Entering 2012, Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar is best known for quality ingredients used by experienced and entertaining hibachi chefs to create delicious meals.
"We're a Japanese steakhouse where food is cooked hibachi style in front of you," says general manger Hain Kim. "Everything on the menu is cooked right before your eyes."
Ichiban's menu offers a little bit of everything from teriyaki chicken to lobster and filet mignon. All dinner entrées are served with flaming shrimp appetizers, soup, salad, freshly grilled vegetables, steamed rice, a cup of Japanese tea and a fortune cookie. For dessert guests can order an a la carte serving of traditional Japanese green tea ice cream or fried ice cream.
"Our menu hasn't changed much over the years, because there is really no reason to change a good thing," Kim says. "Having a small menu helps us maintain the quality of the items we have."
Over the seven years Ichiban has been in Hixson, it has earned a reputation for quality recipes and experienced chefs. Kim says many of the chefs have been working at the restaurant since opening day and are very familiar with their guests.
"Our head chef does all the ordering himself and he makes sure all the produce, meats and seafood are up to the standard we maintain," Kim says. "The customers can see the quality when we bring it out. All that stuff is shown before it is even cooked and that is how you know it is fresh."
Tricks of the trade for Ichiban's hibachi chefs include the time-honored onion volcano as well as plenty of spatula flipping and egg tossing, however, each chef specializes in his own unique show and tricks.
Kim says many people believe hibachi is too expensive, but he assures the menu prices are varied and there are lunch specials weekly as well as sushi specials. Ichiban in Hixson features $4 sushi specials on Mondays that include any roll normally priced $7 and under. Also on Mondays, diners can enjoy $2 sake. Ichiban features $1 nigiri sushi and $2 sake on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The sushi menu is full of traditional favorites like the California roll, but also with specialty rolls like the Spider roll, made with soft shell crab, avocado, cucumber, mayonnaise and carrots. Kim says the restaurant keeps the variety of sushi carefully controlled, so the raw ingredients are always fresh and the sushi rolls adhere to the restaurant's strict code of quality.
"Of course if our customer has any special preferences for the rolls we can accommodate those and the same goes for hibachi as well," says Kim, who is looking for ways to continue improving in 2012. "Our staff has done a great job this last year and we thank our customers for 2011. We hope to maintain our relationships with them and meet some first-timers."
ADDRESS: 5621 Brainerd Road and 5035 Hixson Pike
PHONE: Brainerd is 892-0404 and Hixson is 875-0473
HOURS: Lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Dinner is served Monday through Thursday from 5-10 p.m., Friday from 5-10:30 p.m., Saturday from 5-10:30 p.m. and Sunday from 5-9 p.m.