Today I enjoyed a superb lunch at Ichiba Sushi Restaurant. I have dined at their restaurant on Le Lai in the heart of Saigon’s District many times. They have now opened a new venue at 159d Nguyen Huu Canh in Binh Thanh District, which is a lot closer to me. The opportunity for lunch at Ichiba Sushi is one that I would never pass up.
I was invited to a working business lunch at Ichiba Sushi by RGF Vietnam, one of the biggest recruitment companies in Asia, and was very much looking forward to some of the best sushi and sashimi in the city. I have worked with RGF for over 6 months now and am always impressed by their professionalism. Their organisation here in Vietnam is rapidly expanding with new offices in Hanoi and a huge refurbishment of their Ho Chi Minh City Offices.
The new Ichiba Sushi venue is all but hidden away in a side street next to the one way bit of this major thoroughfare. Upon entering it has a couple of tables for 4 and a couple more of two seater tables, then a long Sushi bar with additional seats. The first thing I noticed was the incongruous house music which I thought detracted from the atmosphere. That being said the staff did reduce volume as my lunch guests arrived and it became less obtrusive.
The Food
I am pleased to report that the very high standards I have come to expect at Ichiba Sushi are fully maintained at this, their newest venue. One small criticism would be that they don’t sell wine by the glass. My dinner companions did not want wine but I would have enjoyed a nice glass of red. Buying a full bottle seemed more than a little excessive. All in all though, this was a fantastic lunch at a nice venue, I’ll certainly be coming back.
Ichiba Hana VND208,000
Delicious tuna with a little avocado wrapped round rice and topped off with fresh crab meat, flying fish eggs, a drop of Sriracha sauce and spicy sauce complete the dish.
Mexicali Maki VND168,000
This warm salmon with cream cheese in a tempura roll, arrives with mango salsa, quacamole, flying fish eggs, sriracha sauce topping and a lovely spicy sauce on the side.
Mr Van Maki VND 178,000
A very nice clean tasting fried shrimp and cream cheese with is topped with mango, guacamole and flying fish eggs on a tangy teriyaki sauce.
Gyoza VND128,000
Our one concession to cooked food was the gyoza, This classic Japanese fried and steamed dumpling dish. Succulent and tasty this was just as good as the uncooked specialities.
Pacific Tuna and Norwegian Salmon Sashimi VND226,000
Super fresh and of a very high standard, I adore sashimi and Ichiba nailed it yet again. Coupled with the soy and wasabi dipping sauce, sashimi is one of life’s great pleasures, especially at these prices. Coming as I do from the Uk, we are used to seriously high prices for this kind of experience.
