Sushi Kaipin

Ichiban Japanese Restaurant in Longmont..is a somewhat disappointing experience for those accustomed to regular Japanese cuisine. The menu items consist mainly of sushi (not always the freshest) and various types of pre-packaged Udon and Ramen Noodles.



The original owner was Japanese..but are now Korean. Actually..the Korean owners now seem to do a better job of cooking that the original Japanese owner. However, possibly due to cost constraints, the quality of ingredients seems decidedly sub-standard..particularly the "fresh fish" used for their sushi and sashimi. We feel that like it or not..restaurants serving fresh and/or raw fish cannot skimp on freshness and quality. Otherwise..they should not try to serve those particular items. We even suggested that perhaps adding some Korean type dishes to their menu would be appealing to a broader cross section of diners.



The cooked items at Ichiban seemed more tasty (certainly less worrisome in terms of possible spoilage)..for instance the Sukiyaki and Udon Noodle bowls. But again..most dishes seemed decidedly "preprepared"..and lacking of the freshness usually associated with Japanese cuisine.



Our recommendation would be for Ichiban to either improve the quality of their ingredients (without raising prices significantly)..or to switch over to serving Korean cuisine as their main emphasis.