Ichiban Izakaya is a charming Japanese izakaya located in Alexandria, VA. We provide a laid-back dining experience with diverse Japanese cuisine and beverages. Our establishment is renowned for its dedicated dishes, attentive staff, and inviting ambiance.
Noah Chavarria
This place was excellent! Usually, when a restaurant tries to do both ramen and sushi, the quality of one suffers – but not here. We went in with modest expectations and were blown away.
Ramen: High-quality noodles with the perfect amount of chew. The broth was rich, the chashu savory, and the egg was done properly. It had a great selection of toppings that kept it focused without trying to do too much.
Sushi: Great Nigiri. The Salmon and Tuna were especially tender and melted in our mouths. The Asakusa Roll was well-assembled with a great combination of flavors.
Service: Friendly and prompt. One detail that stood out is the waitress noticed we placed the ramen bowl in the center to share and immediately brought out small bowls for us to split it, without us even asking.
We’ve been to Japan twice and have had ramen all over the US East Coast. This place is a gem. We will definitely be back if we’re in town!
… moreBW
Hidden gem alert! Authentic Japanese flavors, heartfelt service, and some of the best Teriyaki Salmon we’ve ever had!
My wife and I stopped in on a Sunday afternoon and discovered an absolute gem — Ichiban Izakaya, a cozy Japanese restaurant with authentic flavors and warm hospitality.
We shared the Kiyomizu Shoyu (vegetable noodle soup), Ichiban Teriyaki Salmon, and Harumaki (Japanese veggie egg rolls). Every bite was excellent — the miso soup was the best I’ve ever tasted, and the Teriyaki Salmon was grilled to perfection with a sauce that was unbelievably good. My wife loved the flavor of the noodle soup so much she said it’s her new favorite of all time.
While taking photos of our dishes, our friendly waitress checked in, and the owner soon came by to thank us personally. She was gracious and kind, and we later learned she prepares many of the dishes herself — which explains the quality and care in every plate.
As a surprise, she treated us to a complimentary dessert sampler: Yuzu Cheesecake with a berry base and two soft cream buns — strawberry and key lime — both melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
Highly recommend Ichiban Izakaya! Authentic food, exceptional service, and a genuine personal touch. A true hidden gem in Alexandria — we’ll definitely be back!
… moreJee T
Let me tell you, GO HERE!!! Dont just think about it, just go.
Everything we had here was phenomenal. My husband really wanted a sake in a cold day and we were driving so we didn’t wanna drink a lot. Even though they didn’t have small sake, they made it available for us. They made me a special drink even if it wasn’t on the menu. That just says about how much they care about their customers. Its not business, its about kindness, its about the attitude, and most importantly spreading joy through food! And they did exactly that.
They went ABOVE and BEYOND!
They CARED!
Their service, TOP NOTCH.
… moreLyn A.
Okay, I give up and gave in. When I see a new restaurant I tend to let it settle in before I give it a try. This time I kept hearing people in my building talking about the food here so I figure it’s time to check it out. I walked in during non-peak time of day and sat at the bar. I started with a bowl of miso soup and it was — simply made and wonderful to enjoy. To eat, I ordered an eel based roll (Ginza Roll) and a tuna based roll (Mount Fuji Roll). The first thing I noticed was the rice — clean and slight bite texture; it did not have that sugary or extra soft mush feel that other sushi rolls have. What was pleasing to see was each sushi roll was the size proper to its contents; not forced to be the same size. What was an added touch for me, while sitting at the bar alone seeing how nice and attentive everyone was even exchanging a few smiles. Also, while watching a food channel on the television I received insight from the owner on how Japan really is and how the food offerings differ across the regions. Because I was intently watching what was being made it was welcoming to receive first-hand account — absolutely loved my time here! Everyone is so warm and kind it draws you in. The next time I visit I will try a ramen dish and sip on sake.
… moreTyler Reed
We had gone for the Valentine’s Dinner and we had one of the most enjoyable experiences. The dinner was a really great value and was very delicious. The Tonkotsu Chashu ramen, sushi + sashimi combo, pork gyoza, heart roll, the japanese wagyu sushi and the yuzu cheesecake were all incredible. We ended up talking to the owner and it was extremely fun conversation. The staff was also very attentive and nice! Absolutely recommend this restaurant, and we will absolutely be going more!
… moreMary
This restaurant is always an incredible treat. The ambiance and the decor are super cute. The sushi and ramen are incredibly fresh and have such delightful flavors! Takoyaki is wonderful. The staff is always incredibly helpful and always on point. If you’re debating on coming definitely check them out, you won’t regret it. Be mindful of parking in the area. Some of the garage is closed around 5:00 p.m. there is street parking as well.
… moreMaria Bliznetsova
This is my number one GO TO Japanese restaurant in Alexandria, VA! Quiet, cozy, ambient atmosphere paired with the great menu with lots of options. Fresh ingredients, fantastic ramen, great sushi etc – you name it! My absolute favourites are Spicy Miso Shrimp ramen, Asakusa Roll, Kani crab salad and Sashimi tasting!
… moreBryan
This was a soft open visit, and I’ll update later if things change. The food was fantastic. We ordered a few appetizers and they were all presented very well, the Ramen we ordered was fantastic. Soup was very good, and all the toppings were high quality. I’ll definitely be going back. The menu is a tad more expensive than competitors, but location and taste will keep me coming back here. 5 of 5 stars!
… moreTracy Feerick
Though I felt the ramen portion was a bit small, everything was super delicious. Highly recommend the scallion pancakes
… moreLisa DiGiulio
Run…don’t walk to this hidden gem on Eisenhower. I went last night with a good friend and she eats there nearly every week. I ordered the Bulgogi and it was DELICIOUS! My friend ordered sushi and she said it was also delicious. So – the place is consistently good, it is nice and clean, the staff are just lovely. I got to meet the owner – what a super nice guy. I live in building so I will be ordering from Ichiban Izakaya from now on. Five stars!!
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