A & J Ichiban

Written by www.casago.com’s Local Expert

About

A & J Ichiban is a fantastic Japanese restaurant on F Street in Eureka. It is perhaps one of the most authentic locations in the city for Asian cuisine, from the décor and ambiance to the traditional and more modern items on the menu. The location offers Japanese bento boxes with American choices as well as lots of sushi and more traditional Japanese cuisine.

Our Experience At A & J Ichiban

A & J Ichiban is located at 615 F Street in Eureka. The building is rather unassuming, but the red bricks and awning make it easy to pick out. It only takes a few minutes to get to off Highway 101, making it a fun stop on a road trip or for anyone exploring the fun things to do in Eureka. To get there, follow W. 6th Street until you get to F Street. It’s just up the street from the Morris Graves Museum of Art and the Eureka Inn, which is where we stayed while visiting the area.

There’s outdoor seating near the front entrance. Once you step inside, it’s as if you are being transported to a beautiful Japanese home. The artwork is stunning, with bright red colors and vibrant depictions of Asian culture. There’s also a lot of artwork and sculptures throughout the location to check out.

Good to Know Before You Go

If you’ve spent the day out on the waterfront and exploring the city, call A & J Ichiban to place a takeout order. You can easily order (until 9 pm every day) and take a bursting to-go box back to the hotel.

It can be very busy here as the location is a popular destination. When possible, come in for a late lunch or early dinner to skip the crowds. If you don’t know much about the menu, just ask. The staff is super friendly and offered a few suggestions to our friend who had no real experience purchasing and trying sushi. They are very nice people who will take the time to chat.

What’s on the A & J Ichiban Menu?

The menu does change from time to time, but during our trip, we enjoyed a wide range of flavorful foods. A number of tempura options were on the menu as appetizers, including calamari, vegetables, and shrimp, each of which had a nice light batter on them. They are crisp and airy at the same time.

One of the best menu choices is the bento boxes. These are little containers with sectioned-off areas where different tasty treats are placed. Chicken katsu, beef and chicken teriyaki, golden fish, tofu, and BBQ pork ribs are all options. Each box has a large portion of rice, a small salad, and fresh fruit, along with the main dish you’ve selected.

Now, when it comes to the sushi, there are tons of options, and everything we ate was fantastic. The selection does change a bit based on fresh ingredient access, but there are lots of super great choices here. The portions are big, too.

The California roll, tempura pray, firecracker, and Hamachi roll are all solid options. Also, check out the Nigiri, which is bursting with flavor. You can select from fresh salmon, yellow tuna, red snapper, shrimp, and salmon roe, among others.

They also offer a few special roles, like the Rainbow Roll, which is the California roll with avocado with maguro, and Hamachi, with sake on top. Also, the Lemon Dragon has a tempura prawn in the center with lemon salmon on top and then is finished with spicy mayo.

There are a lot of vegan and vegetarian options on the menu. That makes this location a good option for just about anyone. Their dinners are served with some of the most warming miso soup ever, as well as a salad and rice.

Though we didn’t try it this time, don’t overlook the fantastic ramen noodle dishes. The tonkatsu ramen with chicken katsu or sliced pork is a very filling and tasty meal. It comes with half of an egg, fish cake, broccoli, and seaweed on top.

Our A & J Ichiban Suggestions

Check out the A & J Popcorn Chicken. Though it doesn’t seem to fit into the menu, it’s a nice, crispy bite for an appetizer, and the tomato sauce with it is tangy and filled with flavor. It’s plenty to share, too.

Get a sushi combo to check out a wide range of options. You can choose options ranging from sashimi to Nigiri and others and mix it up. This is the best way to try a few different things, especially if you are new to sushi or just want a variety of flavors. The Bento box is a fun must try! I highly recommend the teriyaki chicken and make it spicy if you want to warm up on a cool day!

Local Tips

  • They have really great bento box lunch combos!

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