DONTEVERCOMEHERE! I pre ordered a combination & California roll. It was suppose to be 15.50. They charged me $ 18!!! The menu on here is not updated. I picked up my stuff and went home. I opened it and there was NO miso soup in the combination!!! Also, everything was cold & the salad & vegetables was old & brown! The sushi was made messy, etc. I live 3 minutes from this place. I called them & told them everything. They were so rude to me on the phone while I payed for the full price of everything. Again, don’t ever come here. There are better sushi places like Yoshi’s. They have done this to me similar in the past. This is the last straw. I’m never coming back again! Just letting you all know that in advance.
Sona P.
Place rating: 4 San Francisco, CA
A favorite sushi spot for its large portions. The chirashi is loaded with sushi and comes on a nice-sized bed of rice(could share with another person for a light meal). The combos are substantial. Only drawback: the rolls are very heavy on rice. Because each roll generally has 6 – 8 pieces, I’d recommend ordering them with less rice.
Frances L.
Place rating: 3 Fremont, CA
This place is ok. They have good flavor combinations with rolls(aka rolls drizzled/sprinkled with a bunch of tasty crap), but I wouldn’t say the fish itself is the highest quality in terms freshness. While I’m definitely not saying that the fish was offensively disgusting, I’ve surely had better…(i.e. in Ankorage where fish is served 3 – 4 hrs after it is caught, Kabuto in the city wherein the quality of fish is A++++). That being said, my bet is on the rolls/cooked appetizers, and I would personally choose to pass on the sashimi. I love their Titanic Roll; for the low price $ 13 – 14(i was treated by a friend and don’t remember), you get this freaking massive roll that’s piled on with good stuff(salmon, tuna, teriyaki sauce, imitation crab, spicy mayo). Considering that it’s the same circumference of a fat super burrito(it’s actually wider than a Sushiritto from SF), but priced the same as the some rolls at other places that are ¼ it’s size, it’s gets the job done well for a quick lunch in DT Oakland. Also have tried the fried oysters, which were great, despite the unconventional brown sauce they have for it(i’d prefer tartar or spicy mayo).
Denisea A.
Place rating: 1 Alameda, CA
I’ve been to Ichiro several times for lunch and have liked it though my tummy has been a little rumbly afterwards. I attributed it to my stomach not totally jiving with raw fish but I enjoy it so much, thought it was a small price to pay for a rare treat. I went again a couple of days ago with a co-worker and we both had raw fish(salmon skin roll and poke roll for me, sashimi and salad for her). Everything tasted ok, no funny smells or consistency but we both felt quite sick all afternoon. Actually for me, I felt bad throughout the night. It wasn’t violent food poisoning but neither one of us will be back.
Nga P.
Place rating: 3 Sacramento, CA
I saw this gigantic roll on Unilocal and had to try it. I should have listen to my fellow Unilocalers, but I had to try it on my own. The Titantic Roll is 13.25 for this hugeeeeee roll. It’s a ton of cucumber and deep fried shrimp in the middle with full pieces of tuna and salmon on every slice. Then it’s topped with spicy crab meat. The roll could have been better but there was way too much rice to fit in my mouth. That’s how the roll ends up being super big. I literally picked at my meal. Ate the inside and enjoyed whole pieces of salmon and tuna as sashimi appetizers. Suggestions to the chef. Maybe add the snow crab inside the roll to give it a better wrap. Loading it up with hella cucumber just makes it taste bitter. Ease down on the rice and this roll can be perfection! The restaurant moves pretty quick. A little hot by the sushi bar.
Tisha D.
Place rating: 2 Oakland, CA
The sushi here was nothing to write home about. I like to try new places and this one was recommended. I don’t regret trying but will probably not be back. In order for an establishment to get a return visit from me it has to have delicious food and/or great customer service, this had neither. The food was average I’ve had a lot better.
Ashkan H.
Place rating: 3 Berkeley, CA
This place is very OK in terms of food quality. Nothing special. I feel like around this area of Oakland, they are the only place that you can get late sushi. I ordered the salmon sashimi, and the smoked salmon philly roll. Didn’t like the salmon philly roll as the salmon in it was very mushy and tasted weird, but my salmon sashimi was OK. Why are they too thick? The taste of the fish was not fresh and definitely not the best quality, but hey you get what you pay for right? When we came here nobody was here! So the staff was very attentive, and we got our food quite fast, but I’m not sure how this place is handled when they have more customers. If you are really craving for sushi around 9PM when you are nearby this area, I guess this place can help you with your sushi cravings. I would give them 2.5 star, but since Unilocal doesn’t take decimal gonna be nice and round it up to 3.
Patty C.
Place rating: 1 Los Angeles, CA
I would not recommend this place to anyone. My friend went here for fried oysters and got food poisoning! I went here before with him and the cuts of fish that came with my dinner bento box was not fresh. It was clearly defrosted frozen fish. It’s not worth spending your hard-earned money here!
Laura C.
Place rating: 4 San Francisco, CA
My friends raved about this place, so I was excited to try it! The rolls and food were tasty, but they were really hard to eat. I expected the titanic roll to be hard to eat, but not the other basic rolls. I had a roll that was cooked and the rice stuck to the foil around it. It seemed like all of our rolls were falling apart. Even the nigiri was hard to eat! I’m not the most proficient in chopsticks so maybe it was just me, but my friends thought maybe it was a different chef in the kitchen because that isn’t the usual. Four stars for now because our server was really sweet and the rolls tasted so good I want to go back!
Kristen F.
Place rating: 4 Berkeley, CA
If I’m being honest, my rating is based on only two menu items, the Titanic Roll and Chirashi(but they are just THAT good). These two items are not only delicious but they are incredibly filling too– they can easily satisfy two people with a substantial appetite. If you are someone who doesn’t love having tons of rice in their sushi rolls, the Titanic might be too much for you, but to me it’s almost necessary given how much sashimi, imitation crab, and tempura you get in the roll. It’s worth a try(or two or five)! The Chirashi is also very generous in its portions and the variety of items you get in it. But again, just be prepared and come hungry!
Marc S.
Place rating: 5 Baldwin Park, CA
Titanic roll! Not your typical japanese sushi place. Portions are about double their size. So, if you’re hungry, then you have to come here. Service was good. People there are nice.
James H.
Place rating: 3 Pleasant Hill, CA
This is the only sushi restaurant in the downtown Oakland area for the working folks. Unfortunately, it’s not the freshest fish around or the best service and it gets busy during peak lunch hour. There are only 2 waitresses and they do not pride themselves on customer service so please do not expect any here. I usually get a nigiri mix when I come here but today I chose for the combination which comes with miso soup which they forgot to bring me and salad. The chicken katsu was very thin and dry and my second item was sashimi which was decent at best. Being the only sushi place in the close proximity to work. I will be returning but already know the deal with this place-1. Unfriendly service 2. Sub par fish 3. Busy at lunch This place can do way better but it’s still 3.5 stars for me.
Harry T.
Place rating: 3 Torrance, CA
VERDICT: Pretty much average sushi roll place QUALIFIER: Probably more of a quick lunch place, but we had dinner here. The décor was probably a second though. FOOD: The rolls are what people come for, and the Titanic roll seems to fit the glutinous American diet. The Chirashi bowl was very filling as well! SERVICE: The servers were nice, and very patient as we were trying to decide on what to eat.
Sheri W.
Place rating: 3 Oakland, CA
I rediscovered Ichiro during my quest for the best sushi in Oakland. This was actually my 2nd visit. My 1st was about 8 months ago when I first moved to the Bay Area. I walked to Ichiro from work to sample their Titanic roll mentioned in so many Unilocal reviews. The visit stuck in my head, but it had felt like a long walk and I wasn’t sure about going back. Fast forward to now, and I’m actually living in Oakland. Furthermore, I’ve discovered that Ichiro is closer to my home than to the office. Worth another try… I decided to get the Titanic roll again and refresh my memory. This roll is insane. I think of it as a sushi Turducken. While a Turducken is a chicken stuffed inside a duck which is stuffed inside a turkey, a Titanic roll is kind of like a shrimp tempura roll inside a rainbow roll inside a spicy crab roll. It’s unreal how big it is(bigger than I remembered). With that said, it’s also impossible to eat. You can’t get chopsticks around it, and if you manage to grab part of it, it falls apart. The best you can do is kind of scoop it. Taste wise, it’s ok but could be better. Every component is just a little sub-par. The tempura isn’t crisp, the raw fish doesn’t melt in your mouth, the rice is under seasoned. I do want to mention two things: 1) Several reviews have mentioned poor or rude service. I thought the service was outstanding. I was greeted warmly on arrival and thanked when I left. I didn’t wait for anything. Perfect. 2) On my 1st visit 8 months ago, I remember they brought me some baked salmon in a sweet, teriyaki-like sauce as a complimentary appetizer. It was delicious, but I figured it was something special that day. What a nice surprise when they did the same this visit, and the fish was just as amazing. I will be back to try other things at Ichiro, and perhaps upgrade my rating. Meanwhile, the quest for the best Oakland sushi bar continues.
Tiffany L.
Place rating: 2 Oakland, CA
Came here during my lunch break with a coworker because I suggested we get some(cheap-ish) sushi. It was probably the worst meal we’ve had together in the downtown Oakland area. What first struck me though, and left a lasting impression, was the pretty bad vibe of this place, especially coming from the servers/waitstaff. It’s not just the place is old/dingy and poorly lit. Bur rather, all of waitstaff stand around, intently staring at you from afar while you bite into your food(is there something wrong with it? Hah), and sometimes seemingly glaring and smirking… and just overall being seemingly nervous anxious… just a bad vibe. I don’t know what’s up, but it was not comfortable for me to eat there. Not pleasant over lunch break. Anyway, onto the food itself. I got a bento box, which is less than $ 12 before tax. Not bad for price, but it didn’t taste so great. The first bite of my salmon teriyaki tasted like mushy, microwaved eggs… and I wouldn’t be surprised if they microwaved the food because it all came out really fast. My sashimi was okay, not particularly fresh, but a couple cuts didn’t look so appetizing so I didn’t finish all the pieces. Coworker got a simple roll, which was inexpensive and she had no complaints about it. However, she also ordered tempura ice cream because she was craving something sweet. Do not order this! Super doughy and filled with batter. Avoid. I would not come back, the general vibe just threw me off and to top it off, the food was not worth it.
Rockne H.
Place rating: 4 San Francisco, CA
I love the different types of Asian cuisine in the Bay. Kind of disappointed to find a very limited amount of joints per cuisine in Oakland. In fact, when I searched for sushi, I swear only one or two places came up, this being one of them. The pictures looked good and since it was conveniently located, I really wanted to check it out. Nestled between Broadway and Franklin, this joint gives off the normal sushi joint vibe. You have table top seating throughout and a large sushi bar to watch the sushi makers make their masterpiece. They were nice and did the usual greeting and send offs for customers. The servers were a little duh in my opinion. Not really a warm greeting but at least checked back a lot for water and other things. After looking at all the pictures, there was only roll I wanted to try, the Titanic Roll for $ 13.25. Its basically a shrimp tempura roll stuffed with cucumbers, wrapped with tuna, salmon and topped with spicy crab and green onions along with ponzu sauce. I’ve been warned by all the comments online how big it was and you really don’t realize how massive it is until you get it yourself. HOLYCOW, this roll is gigantic like the Titanic! The cuts were thick as well, so it’s hard to eat each piece together. I ended up dissecting each component so it was manageable to eat. I loved the flavors and textures: crispy tempura and cucumbers, creamy texture from the fish, LOVED the spicy crab meat and all tied in with the ponzu. My goodness, what an awesome roll. It’s hard to finish this roll by yourself so naturally, the price was totally worth it! Come in and try that roll, you will be amazed. If not, the curry looked awesome as well as the sashimi plate. I’m going to return and try them all! Thanks for an awesome meal.
Noelle H.
Place rating: 3 San Francisco, CA
They’ve raised their prices =(boooo While it’s only a few dollars, it’s no longer the cheapest bang for your buck. And the $ 15 credit card minimum is annoying if you’re trying to grab lunch. The quality of the fish doesn’t really justify the higher prices. The hunt continues to find the best sushi in East Bay.
Lyra C.
Place rating: 3 San Francisco, CA
The Titanic roll was definitely Titanic, they were not stingy with the fish at all. I think that the rice to fish ratio was definitely uneven though. Too much rice! Also it wasn’t very fresh. I also got the Alaskan roll. I only gave 3 stars because, well. The service was just not good. The lady waitress seemed very unpleasant and failed to mention that there’s a $ 15 minimum if you pay with debit or credit. I was ordering to go and so I stood there for a while and was not offered a seat or a drink. The lady never smiled either like it was a bad day. She didn’t give a crap about me, basically. She seemed a little snappy too. I also wish they’d update the time that they’re open. They close and are not open from 11 – 9! Which is annoying because I drove here once from my work site because it says its open. Fix this and the waitresses attitude!
Joane B.
Place rating: 2 Oakland, CA
I think this place is totally overrated. If you don’t care about good service then this shouldn’t be a problem for you. We sat at the bar so I was able to see what the chefs were putting out. The chef put out a hand roll and it was sitting there for a good 10 minutes. Next to me, the waitress placed a platter of sushi on top of all the menus where there was clearly room to place the dishes. It ended up sitting there for a good 10 minutes as well. Finally, I see the waitress grab the handroll and the sushi platter and bring it to the table behind me, but I’m thinking, what exactly was the hold up if it was just those two dishes? & I’m telling you, it wasn’t busy. Our waitress never looked at us. They were looking away, not engaging, doing things non-chalant. The infamous Titanic roll is really an extra layer of rice, a big slice of fish and a butt load of cucumbers. See my pics. You can definitely find better. I would never come back here.
Audrey L.
Place rating: 4 San Francisco, CA
Wow, very thick cuts of sashimi in the chirashi bowl, and you get ~20 pcs for $ 18.75. Quite a bang for your buck. The quality is just average(not sure how fresh all the fish was), but no one got sick. The other sushi also comes in huge portions. One piece of the spider roll was about the size of my fist. All very tasty. There’s plenty of seating inside, and also a wide selection of sake. The house sake is dispensed from a machine, but still pretty good from what I could tell. Definitely a whole in the wall restaurant that’s located on a street with lots of closed shops. Wouldn’t have looked to try it if I hadn’t noticed it on Unilocal first. Thanks, Unilocal