Izakaya Ichie
In Buena Park, expect sushi, sashimi, and other well-known Japanese dishes – not typical izakaya fare
In Japan, izakayas generally aren’t just regular Japanese restaurants or drinking establishments. They’re places to sample atypical Japanese small dishes that parallel Spanish tapas, an experience one can enjoy authentically in Orange County at local restaurants such as Fountain Valley’s Kappo Honda and Shin-Sen-Gumi Robata & Yakitori.
Located at The Source in Buena Park, Izakaya Ichie is like some other izakayas in more closely resembling a typical Japanese restaurant. The menu focuses on sushi, sashimi, and drinks, with some hot kitchen items such as a karaage (fried chicken) duo and sampler plates that let you try salmon, squid, and tuna salads, fried oysters, fresh scallops, and herring roe.
After our first visit, which we would describe as “coming to grips with the limited menu,” we didn’t feel the need to go back another time. But when out-of-town family came to visit, and we went to The Source, we wound up visiting Ichie a second time and tried to make the most of the sushi and sashimi being offered.
Virtually everything we tried was acceptable rather than memorable, and the prices were on par with many other sushi- and sashimi-focused places these days – a little high. Some of the items on visit one were actively disappointing: The truffled salmon wasn’t a huge hit with our family’s salmon fan, the uni didn’t taste quite as fresh as at other places at The Source, and the karaage pieces were mostly small – the honey garlic side was better than the classic version. Some items we tried to order from the small menu were either out of stock (yuzu lemonade) or no longer available (okazu platter).
On our second visit, we stuck with heavily protein-focused items: a substantial sashimi bowl, an octopus carpaccio, and hand rolls that arrived using soy paper rather than nori. This time, everything tasted appropriately fresh and seasoned enough to avoid complaints.
While we wouldn’t visit Izakaya Ichie again for anything vaguely “izakaya” related – a word we wish wasn’t in its name – it’s a fine option for sushi and sashimi if you’re already at The Source. The restaurant appears to be committed to improving itself over time, so we’ll hold out hope that it continues evolving into something even more compelling.
Stats
Price: $$-$$$
Service: Table
Open Since: 2022
Addresses
6920 Beach Blvd. Suite K124
Buena Park, CA 90621
657.452.3138
Instagram: @ichieizakaya