I thoroughly enjoyed the dining experience at Ichika with a group of 8. The food was excellent and the presentation was thoughtful and beautiful..all within a space that’s also thoughtfully and beautifully designed.My favorite items:Spain otoro and Wagyu beef nigiriFatty tuna with uni (pictured)ChawanmushiDessert platter (pictured)Highly recommend and will be back!
A warm retreat with a delicious delivery.OverallI had a great experience, the staff was very inviting and communicative from even before the dinner. The meal was pleasant and service on-point. Ambience set the mood and the dishes were always anticipated.Take NoteThis place only takes reservations which, we had to pay $35 per person online, and this fee was not deducted from the total bill.ServiceThe staff here welcomed us and provided an attentive but not overly interruptive service. Hot teas were refilled often and our refreshments topped off whenever asked. The server was a little higher energy than expected in the environment, but had a very pleasant and charming attitude. We had emailed in advance to try to substitute beef where possible (and this was followed for the most part, minute one course) and that it was for a special occasion. It seemed the beef substitution made it through in communication but the special event did not as we were asked twice at the restaurant.VenueThe restaurant features very warm and dark walls with modern fixtures. Careful touch was put into the design and presentation of the restaurant. The booths in the back allowed for a little more intimate scene, but they also had a couple of tables toward the front and a couple of settings at the sushi bar that wasnt in use. They ensured not to overfill the restaurant with guests and we felt perfectly comfortable even during the pandemic to be sat and enjoy a meal. The outside is unassuming, we had to double-check that we went to the right location to find this hidden gem. There is one restroom for guests that contains self-cleaning bidet and facilities were clean.FoodThe overall presentation of each piece was Instagram-worthy, they came out on a semi-even cadence, and most guests were served their courses around the same time. Some of the items were very one-note, but none of the pieces were anything less than delicious. The appetizer had an interesting choice of combination of textures with a raw fish and what tasted like rice balls, mangos, and avocado. They couldve done without the rice balls as this added too much chewiness to the appetizer. The following courses featured other raw and cooked fish as well as American Wagyu Beef. As the menu changes, the experience will be differ, but this Prix fixe menu hosted 8 courses. One of the courses the Wagyu Beef couldnt be substituted and we were offered twice the ability to remove the item and recieve a discount off the final bill. However, we feel they couldve just added a second otoro or uni, we still opted for keeping the item. The frothed soy sauce that they served for our raw fish enhanced the flavors but could be overbearing if you accidentally dipped too much, but I would say was a star of the meal as it was very tempting to just drink. Im ok in admitting that! Final comments on the food was we felt that the amount of food was a little lacking for an experience such as this. Previous menus had offered 10 courses, and I feel they couldve continued that or had at least one more course where an additional plate was offered before the soup and dessert. They did include a cake with a candle to celebrate the birthday at the end!Final NoteThis restaurant is one that you should experience if youre in East or South Bay. Get a reservation in advance to ensure you have a seat and, if you arrive a little early like we did, youll get to choose where youd like to sit. The final price was well over $135 per person and I would say it was worth it, though wouldve been nice if there was a 9th course, that wouldve given the experience a full 5 stars. I would still rate this as an experience you should have if you enjoy Japanese cuisine or sushi.
Such a great place! Food was amazing! I recommend this place.
Such creative delicious food with a great ambiance. I let them know ahead of time and the chef was able to accommodate me as a vegan.
I took my parents to dine at Ichika. They loved the food and service very much and had a great time there. We especially would like to thank the lovely girl who can speak Chinese Mandarin and patiently introduced the courses to my parents (because my parents dont speak English).
One of our favorite places in (south) east Bay. Front the exterior, Ichika is an unassuming storefront in an extremely ordinary strip mall. As soon as you walk through the door, you are transported into pure Japanese elegance. Beautiful hand-made wood accents around this intimately lit space.The food is a story. We have visited five times now and each visit was an unique story. The dishes and individual bites play off each other and guide you through a 6 to 8 course meal. From presentation to flavor, each bite is crafted incredibly well.We have celebrated 3 birthdays here and this is the place we bring friends & family when we are looking to have a great night out. The price is going to be more than your typical meals, but when compared to other restaurants of this quality, Ichika offers master-class food at a great price.
The food was very fresh and flavorful, however they only served us 4 pieces of sushi which was rather disappointing
Awesome food! Great Vibe! Would definitely recommend to friends to come!
We went there for my girlfriend birthday. The food looked beautiful and lovely. The staffs were nice and responsive. The ambient environment was great and sushi preparation in a visible area made a connection between the chef, customers, and food possibly. Overall we had a good experience and a wonderful night there and highly recommend this tiny and lovely restaurant.
We went for a birthday celebration and sat the sushi bar. Staff were very attentive, friendly, professional, and gave sufficient space to enjoy the meal. Environment was intimate, high end, but still casual/relax.There were multiple courses, you can see the chef put a lot of time around the sequence and type of food. Each course was very flavorful and creative. The main course was the nigiri, all the fish was very fresh and unique.Key thing that stood out was, if sitting at sushi bar, chef was willing to customize nigiri (e.g less/more wasabi) and even offer second servings of select nigiri you enjoyed.At end of the meal, staff customized the dessert for a small birthday celebration. Overall, meal was very worth it and fulfilling.
The food is incredible. The atmosphere and interior design is intimate, elegant and modern. Absolutely phenomenal experience. Great recommendations with sake. We sat at the bar seating and chatted with the nigiri/sashimi chef. I can’t wait to come back!
One of the best kaiseki experience in the area. Prix fixe menu so be sure to review the menu before reservations in case of dietary restrictions. The Chef & the staff were very accommodating. Food, drinks and service of the highest quality. Highly recommended.
Don’t be fooled by the location- this place is very nice inside and the food is delicious!
Came here a week ago for make-up Valentines day dinner. I have been waiting for high-end omakase restaurant at the south bay for a long time. Finally, I dont have to drive out to SF for high-end omakase. Would most definitely come back for spring meal.EnvironmentModern and clean. Good classy setup for omakase style restaurant while approachable enough where I dont feel like I have to dress up for this place.FoodOverall happy with the food selection, styling and quality. For sub $200, I felt that I got my money worth of food. A few earlier dishes seems to be just average in terms of taste and execution, Ill give the chef bonus pts for trying to mix western style with traditional Japanese food. Wouldnt mind seeing more exploration type/mix style later in the menu. The rest of the sushi & set dishes are solid and good quality. While nothing scream at me as amazing, there were unique items and experience which I havent seen before.ServiceAttentive and polite. Servers were knowledgeable about each dishes and pay close attention to our needs. Throughout the evening, they easily came around 20+ time to fill my cup without me saying a word. Dishes came out at a good pace even when there were only one sushi chef prepping for 20+ people. Great experience overall.
Milpitas is sooooo lucky to have these guys!!!!
Super yummy, 8-9 courses, some with multiple individual small plates. My favorite was the A5 wagyu nigiri, which was my first time having A5 wagyu. I had heard about A5 before, but I wasnt expecting how it literally does melt in your mouth. The uni was also delicious, and the fish eggs they had with it were creamy and sweet, not salted, which was really surprising. Salmon nigiri was the most creamy soft salmon Ive ever had. Also loved the mousse at the end, it was the perfect line between decadent and sweet. The sponge cake on the bottom was so airy I barely noticed it.Service was exceptional. Our waiter Christine (Christina?) seemed to know exactly what we wanted exactly when we did.
The food is both beautiful and delicious. Owner is friendly and accommodating. The experience well exceeded my expectation and definitely worth it
Good ambiance, excellent service of great food arranged very presentable.
The food was great and service was nice!
One of the most delightful and creative meals in a jewel box of a restaurant. Gracious service, too. They are doing something special here!
Didnt appear open. There are no lights on. Why is there still a sign on the door requiring face mask?
The food was decent and the service was great. I however didnt find it justified for the $180/person price.
10 courses of wow.
Gorgeously plated and crazy delicious. This is a real gem in the South Bay.
The best sushi in town!
Great food
I can’t believe there is a restaurant of this level in Milpitas!
Total reviews rating 4.6
37 Reviews for Ichika 2024:
Review №1
2023-10-08 03:39:54Absolutely love this restaurant! The food is delicious, the atmosphere is lovely, and the service is great! All the dishes are selected by the chef and are seasonal, so each time you go, the dish set can be different. Toward the end we got another menu for us to order extra besides the dish set. To my understanding, you dont always get a chance to order extra dishes; its probably all based on how busy the restaurant is and how the chef feels (my assumption). Yes, its expensive, but its sooo worth it!!! Highly recommended, especially if you have a special occasion! You wont regret it!THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:- Because the dish set is selected by the chef, please remember to confirm with the restaurant before you go for those who may have a food allergy.- Maybe its better to make a reservation because the restaurant space is quite limited.- The time limit is 2 hours.- For those fast eaters, you probably still need 2 hours to enjoy the food. Its not about how fast you eat; its about how each course is brought to you one after another and how everything is at a relaxing pace.
Review №2
2023-09-07 04:06:17Non nigiri/sushi dishes were better. Crab and steamed egg soup, eggplant dashi, matcha tiramisu, duck with almonds appetizer were tasty. Fish were just ok for omakase place.
Review №3
2023-02-06 20:27:16Ichika hits the spot for an omakase/fine dining experience. We came to celebrate a birthday and it did not disappoint. The menu was varied with delicious hot Japanese dishes, nigiri, and sashimi that left us feeling very full and satisfied. The service was on point and the interior decoration makes the space feel very intimate. Make sure to reserve online! Will definitely be coming back here as my south bay go-to.
Review №4
2023-01-04 12:40:36Came here for our anniversary dinner and it was so well worth it. We booked our reservation using tock a bit out in advance as it was still in its soft opening phase.Parking would not be a problem as its located in a big strip mall with lots of available slots to park and well lit for dark evenings/nights.A very friendly hostess greeted us, verified our reservation details and sat us at the bar and it seemed quite a bit of an intimate setting though they did have a few tables alongside the bar that were occupied as well.With a warm welcome from the chef, started the onset of the dishes that as well sashayed the masters craft. He definitely took pride in his work and executed the cuts, slices, rolls et al to perfection and spent quite some time walking us through each of the item that was served. Great experience and I would definitely recommend it to those who like Sushi and an intimate omakase experience.Gochisousama deshita!!!
Review №5
2023-06-18 20:22:50Good food and service. Everything was perfect, except I got 2 small fish bones out of the sushi. Bad luck for me, haha.
Review №6
2022-10-23 17:55:18Was skeptical with Ichika, a relatively new fine dining Japanese restaurant in Milpitas. Location is in a strip mall with plenty of parking. Reservations are recommended. Decor and atmosphere is modern and welcoming. We tried the prix fixe menu for $168 per person. Value was okay considering some premium cuts like bluefin tuna toro and wagyu beef. Presentation was good as well, feels like they put some thought into the serving plates. Overall a good experience.
Review №7
2022-01-08 08:34:55The value is not as expected.The display and environment are very nice.The tables towards the back is not so comfortable, the setting is awkward.Service is awesome by Kai. He constantly checked in with us, which we really appreciate.However given the price for the two sets, I don’t think is very valuable. Portion is definitely small…… The sushi rice supposedly should have more vinegar taste. But it does not, it taste like just simple boil rice with a piece of sashimi on top. The sashimi is not too fresh except the O toro. Which taste really good.We ordered the premium set, which we expected more…. However there wasn’t any dish that I think I can recall well or think were super attractive. Will not be back…
Review №8
2023-08-08 08:11:38Kaiseki style omakase. Overall I like their service. Nice server, friendly chef. But food wise, I would expect a bit more on the food quality for the price I am paying. For those who have not try this restaurant yet, I definitely recommend to try it out.One thing I would like to mention is that the chef kept drinking Philz coffee while preparing food. I won’t expect that for a serious Omakase.
Review №9
2021-10-15 19:24:56Lucky to have a Japanese fine dining in South Bay. Pre-set menu with 2 options. Menu changes up with season. The restaurant is at soft opening period, co-owner Kai, is super sweet & eager to hear customers feedback. I love the uni one most. But I actually like all of them. The matcha tiramisu is so special. Service was excellent.
Review №10
2022-06-04 02:52:54I was looking for omakase when I was visiting home for a week. I wasn’t able to snag a reservation for spots I wanted to go to and I didn’t want to drive up to SF. I noticed this new omakase experience and the website looked really elegant, so I booked seats for 2. You have to put down a $35/person deposit per person, which makes sense since there’s limited capacity and they lose out on a lot if people are no-shows. You’re paying a price for a personalized experience and quality food.Just a note: this is a bit of a less traditional experience since they plate multiple nigiri and some other courses come out bigger rather than as smaller bites you have at other omakase places. All of the fish we had was fresh. The night we went, they worked A5 wagyu into 2 courses. I really liked the A5 wagyu chawanmushi (wasn’t expecting it in chawanmushi…it’s usually a plain steamed egg). My partner liked the A5 wagyu nigiri too. The fun part was the edible spoon that came with our mango cake.The courses change, so don’t expect the same items. Overall, the $158 price is pretty standard for omakase in the Bay Area. The ambiance and service were great. We sat at the bar since I wanted to see the chef make the pieces, but we couldn’t see too much. Watching the chef make the nigiri is my favorite part, but oh well. They also have tables for families/groups.